Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2007-08: One of the top goaltenders in the QMJHL last season, Cousineau led his team to the second best record in the league. Unfortunately for him and the Drakkar, they were ousted in five games by Rimouski in the first round of the QMJHL playoffs. Cousineau finished the season 34-19 with a .903 save percentage and a 2.81 goals against average.

2008-09: Split the season between the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and The Drummondville Voltigeurs. For Baei-Comeau, he posted a 9-20-5 record, .886 save percentage, and 3.77 GAA. With Drummondville however, he posted a 12-3-1 record, .904 save percentage, and a 2.42 GAA.

2009-10: split the season between the Prince Edward Island Rocket and the Saint John Sea Dogs. For the Rocket he posted a 10-14 record, .908 save percentage, and 3.2 GAA. For the Sea Dogs he registered a 15-5 record, 2.36 GAA, and .914 save percentage. He also finished the season with 4 shutouts.

2010-11: Cousineau skated in 44 games for ECHL Elmira as a first-year pro. He finished with a 21-21 record and posted a 3.23 GAA and .898 save percentage. Cousineau appeared in all four playoffs games for the Jackals and was 1-2 with a 1.91 GAA and .938 save percentage.

2011-12: Cousineau played in three different leagues in his second pro season – seeing his most extensive action with the Allen Americans in the Central Hockey League. He spent six games with the Ducks AHL affiliate Syracuse in January and February and was 3-2 with a a 3.32 goals against and .904 save percentage. He skated in one November game with ECHL Elmira, stopping 29 of 33 shots in a 4-3 loss to the Trenton Titans. Cousineau and minor league veteran Rejean Beauchemin split the goaltending duties for Allen. Cousineau was 16-8 with four losses in overtime in 25 games and had a 2.53 goals against with a .918 save percentage. Allen finished second in the Berry Division. Cousineau played in 4 of 6 playoff games in the series with Texas and was 1-3 with a 2.09 goals against and .924 save percentage. He was re-signed by Anaheim to a one-year contract in July 2012.

Talent Analysis

Cousineau has drawn praise for his competitiveness and receptiveness to instruction. He is a butterfly-goalie with solid poise between the pipes. He seems to have taken a step backward on his path to the NHL, as he has spent this year playing in the low-profile Central Hockey League.

Future

Cousineau may soon fall to the same fate as other goalies in the Anaheim organization recently as the Ducks reorganize their goaltending stable. From the trade deadline to the start of the 2011-2012 season, the Ducks brought in five new goalies, four of whom are still in the organization. His NHL future remains cloudy at best.

Photo: Bruising winger Josh Brittain is one of only four Anaheim draft picks from 2008 that is still part of the Ducks system (courtesy of Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Drafting is not always an exact science, and scouting is indeed one of the toughest jobs in the world. In 2008, the Anaheim Ducks had a draft you could describe as disappointing. While the franchise hit big with talented blueliners in Jake Gardiner and Justin Schultz, neither would ever don an Anaheim uniform, instead breaking into the NHL with Toronto and Edmonton respectively. The rest of the draft was a mixed bag of busts, project players, and depth acquisitions. While every draft is going to have the aforementioned group, the Ducks had very little to take away from a 2008 NHL Draft class that has produced many NHL players across all rounds.

Photo: After a slow start to his rookie season, Emerson Etem came on strong in the second half, earning a steady role in the Ducks lineup (courtesy of Ric Tapia/Icon SMI)

In a low-scoring season that you might consider a struggle, the Norfolk Admirals and the Anaheim Ducks still have a lot to look forward to with several young and promising players suiting up for the team. Between a few solid goaltenders, some talented forwards, and at least one AHL All-rookie team defenseman, the Ducks can look at their AHL system with a promising eye. Many of the prospects are on the cusp of becoming NHL players, and as the AHL season has come to an end many of them have made noteworthy cases for being considered for a spot with the big club next season.

Photo: With 54 NHL games already under his belt, Devante Smith-Pelly is the leading left wing prospect in the Anaheim prospect pool. (courtesy of Ray Carlin/Icon SMI)

The Anaheim Ducks prospect system has a solid core and the future appears to be very bright. The club features great depth with young rising stars at each position. The Ducks have a few skaters whom many believe have the ability to make an immediate impact at the NHL level.